Online dating is one of the most popular ways to meet new men. However, the way you approach online dating will either make or break your dating life. Here are some suggestions on how to navigate through the world of online dating in order to move the potential relationship offline.

Make sure your pictures depict the real you.
You will want to have at least five pictures on your page that show off your beauty in multiple angles. Make sure your pictures are as recent as possible and include one full body shot as well. If your pictures consists of you and ten of your friends, make sure to crop your friends out of the shot and zoom in on yourself. You want to be as up front as possible so that potential suitors do not think that you have something to hide.Don’t reply to every message you receive.
Yes, this may seem harsh but really, who has the time to respond to every message that they receive? The last thing you want is to get caught sending messages back and forth with someone who cannot take “no” for an answer. You are better off deleting the messages from the men whose profiles and pictures do not interest you so that you can put your attention towards the men you are really interested in.

Keep your replies short.
When you do get a message from a man that interests you, keep your replies short and straight to the point. Men who are more interested in writing lengthy emails back and forth are not looking for love, they are looking for a pen pal. Be elusive, but engaging, and he will be anxious to meet you in person.

Don’t get caught up in the fantasy.
If you take a closer look at the profiles that many men write, they are all essentially saying the exact same thing. They all claim to be “honest” and “loyal” looking for someone who “loves to laugh” and “live life to the fullest”. Words on a computer screen mean nothing, but their actions will win your heart. Every guy sounds like a winner on paper, but you really need to meet him in person in order to find out if he is relationship material.
When you give him your number, ask him to call instead of texting you.
Texting is just as informal as emailing so if you want to see if a guy is interested in you, tell him to give you call. If he prefers to text you instead, he might have something to hide. It is extremely difficult to gauge someone’s emotions and get a feel for their personality through text messages.

Do not send any additional pictures via email or text message.
There is a multitude of men online who just aren’t satisfied with what your profile presents to them and so they ask you to send them additional pictures. These men are usually unsure about you or they are so focused on looks that they want to make sure that you are physically what they are looking for before they commit to asking you out on a date. This is why it’s important to have at least five various pictures on your profile so that they can see you for who you really are. If the pictures on your profile aren’t enough for them, tell them to get lost.

Your first meeting should be in a public place.
This one is a no-brainer. Make sure that you meet your date in a public place and do not allow him to pick you up from your home. If a guy insists on picking you up from your house or tries to convince you to meet him at your house, politely decline the offer until you get to know him a little better. You must express caution when meeting men online and offline as well.
By following the above suggestions, you will find that online dating can be an enjoyable experience. By keeping your expectations reasonable, and staying focused on what you really want in a relationship, you will be well on your way to finding true love online.

These tips were brought to you by the team at DatingSouth, an online dating site for London and South East England. For more hints and tips, check out their new dating advice blog!